In LA on business.. need local advice

[ChoralScholar]

Where is the best place to eat in downtown LA.. I'm staying in the Westin Bonaventure...

[radwriter0555]

1. DUDE, go to PHIL's for the roast beef dip... it's casual, but the Water

Grill may well be your best FINE dining experience.

If you're over in Hollywood, Vert is EXCELLENT, at Hollywood & highland. If you're near West Hollywood, Ago is OUTSTANDING, at Melrose & La Cienega.

For traditional Hollywood, Musso & Frank Grill, on Hollywood Boulevard, near Highland, or Dan Tana's on Santa Monica @ Doheny.

I could use a dinner date tonight!

[radwriter0555]

2. P.S. You should also check out Olvera street if you have time...

it's a lovely, amazing slice of Los Angeles history. The restaurants are traditional Mexican and excellent. It's a fantastic diversion and sweet, simple fun.

[UCLA02]

6. LALA's on Melrose just w of La Brea

GREAT Argentinian food. Forget the name of the dish, but it's the fillet mignon with mashed potatoes.

Don't forget the bread with garlic and olive oil and the sangria.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. What kind of food do you like?

YOu can eat inexpensively in Japan Town, or you can go eat at Ocean's..very famous Cantonese restaurant...


I don't recommend the Pantry...it's filthy

Patina's on Grand is also excellent

[radwriter0555]

4. I'm glad someone else doesn't like the Pantry, it's kind of a crap

hole now.

I don't know of any new places.

Have you been to the Corner Place, the korean bbq on James Woods? It RAWKS. The waitresses hate non-asians and practically throw the food at you, and it's fantastic!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. Love Korean BBQ but haven't had it there yet

And yeah...oh also if he wants kosher food, there's Langer's on Alvardo and 7th...

[Nailzberg]

7. Just in case anyone suggests PINKS while I'm not looking, it's dogfood.

Worst. Hotdog. Ever.

People act like it's some kinda institution around here. There should be an institution for people who like that crap.


However, if you like Italian food, there is this nice little place on Melrose near La Brea called Frankie's. The owner was Frank Sinatra's personal chef back in the day. The restaurant is something out of Goodfellas, and the two main waiters there are Dino and Gino. A very NYC feel to it; Real food, not LA food. It's not a Hollywood gimmick.

I recommend it. Just don't talk to loud about being a democrat, Dino is a nice guy, but he gets his news from FOX news channel, and is very misinformed. I've tried to point him in the right way before, but he thinks I've been brainwashed by the liberal media. He's so nice and friendly, I hope he snaps out of it some day.

[radwriter0555]

8. Pinks SUCKS. I hate their dogs. But Frankie's sounds good,

I'll have to check that one out... whereabouts is it? Is that the joint on the corner of Highland and Melrose?

[Nailzberg]

9. Melrose and Alta Vista.

It's at the same corner as Lala's and El Guapo, just a couple blocks west of La Brea.

Frankie's isn't really popular with the LA crowd, most the people I've seen there have been Chicagoans or New Yorkers, looking for some good, carb-heavy pasta in this fad-diet wasteland they call LA.

I think that's why I like it. If I go out for lunch at work, it's usually some trend & healthy place here in West Hollywood. That's what I got around me. So after too much of that, I get these urges to go to a place like Frankies and get a Chicken Parm loaded with cheese and sauce, takes me home.

[Nailzberg]

10. Of course, for the original poster's needs, it is no where near downtown.

Sorry, dude. Forgot the original purpose of the thread was to get you food.

I don't really don't know much of downtown.

[radwriter0555]

11. OHMYGAWD that sounds great. I'm THERE as soon as I can wrangle

a dinner companion... hopefully tonight.

Do you ever do Dan Tana's? It sounds just like Frankies, same crowd.

I love good healthy food, but then I love good FOOD too.

Al Gelato down on Robertson does the most amazing thing with a meatball and sauce and bread that you have ever seen, and their ravioli is love on a plate! I love their bread soooo much I buy a whole loaf every couple of weeks. It's $6 and lasts me 2 weeks if I put half in the freezer. And THE BEST GELATO IN THE USA.... Great joint.

[Nailzberg]

15. In my best Homer Simpson voice "mmmm, Gelato."

It sounds great. defiently gonna try those two out. Thanks for the tip.

[Shakespeare]

12. Speaking of WeHo dining establishments....

I just moved away from there about a year ago (to NoCal), and desperately miss Taxco (Mexican food). If you like Mexican food and want a unique (and affordable) dining experience, you MUST go there. It's on Harper, just off of Santa Monica Blvd.

The menu is fixed price ($22 or so), and includes 5 courses. You don't get a printed menu; the waiters give you a dramatic recitation which will become one of your favorite things about the restaurant on repeat visits. It's a kick.

The entrees vary, but there are always a few selections in each catagory of beef, chicken, seafood and vegetarian. Their carne asada is amazingly good, and I won't even order it anywhere else because I know it won't be as good as Taxco's. The other courses usually include (they vary somewhat, too, but not much) a quesadilla wedge, a bowl of soup, a tiny enchilada, your entree, and a dessert of banana custard with a small glass of sherry (the two pair incredibly well, believe it or not).

They serve great sangria, and their Cancun-style margaritas (guava based instead of lime based) are out of this world. Order a pitcher of them. My husband and I miss this restaurant probably more than anything else in LA, and it'll be one of our first stops the next time we're down to visit.

[Nailzberg]

14. That is just blocks from my office, I really should hit it up!

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm gonna try to go sometime next week.

[Shakespeare]

16. Do! You haven't lived till you've had dinner at Taxco!

Our favorite part is having the menu read to us (my teenage stepdaughter was initially mortified the first time we took her there, but she soon thought it was hilarious and now does her own rendition of Reciting the Taxco Menu). God, I miss that place!

[tigerbeat]

13. check out Patina's grilled cheese night

i think it's tonight actually. i know the one in hollywood does it...does the one downtown?